UPDATE: Children located — Niagara Region Amber Alert expired, five children remain missing

Update (Wednesday, Oct. 2, 2019, 3:30 p.m.): The five children that were the subjects of yesterday’s Amber Alert have been located safely, according to the Niagara Regional Police Service (NRPS).

“Following the Amber Alert issued on October 1, 2019, investigators from the NRPS Child Abuse Unit received information about the recent activities of Ian MacDermid. The ensuing investigation of this information led to the discovery that Ian MacDermid was operating a red Toyota Camry,” NRPS said in a statement, referring to the events of yesterday.

“Further investigative steps taken on October 2, 2019 led investigators to an address in Ridgeway, where the vehicle was located parked in the yard of a rental cottage. With the assistance of Uniform Officers investigators located the missing children inside the cottage. The children appear to be in good health and are currently being cared for,” the statement continues. “The Niagara Regional Police would like to thank the community for their assistance in bringing this to a peaceful and safe resolution.”

Original article:

Although the original Amber Alert has expired, five children from the Niagara Region remain missing, and police continue to search for their father.

The original Amber Alert was issued on Tuesday, Oct. 1, 2019, citing that detectives from the Niagara Regional Police Service (NRPS) Child Abuse Unit were conducting an abduction investigation into the whereabouts of the five missing children.

“The NRPS investigation has revealed that between September 19th and 25th, 2019, the children were taken from the family home in Jordan by their father Ian Glenn MacDermid (49 years old); their current whereabouts are unknown. The children are subject to a temporary custody order and their father is in contravention of the order by failing to return them,” NRPS said in the original Amber Alert.

Since then, further investigation by the NRPS Child Abuse Unit has found that the father in this investigation is believed to be driving a 2002, red, four-door Toyota Camry with Ontario licence plate CJMB 976.

“As of 5 p.m. on October 1, 2019 the father was observed within the Niagara Region in this vehicle. The children were not with him at the time,” NRPS said.

The following are the descriptions of the father and five children police are currently looking for:

Ian MacDermid (See photo) has been described as:
– male, 49, white, approx. 6’0″ tall, 265 to 280lbs, blond hair, blue eyes, with facial hair

The children (see photos) have been identified as:
Evalyn MacDermid (female, 5 years)
– 3’8, long black hair, medium build. Asian
Mattias MacDermid (male, 10 years)
– 4’8, light brown caramel hair, small/medium build, Asian
Sovereign MacDermid (female, 11 years)
– 5’2, heavy set, long black hair, Asian
Eska MacDermid (female, 13 years)
– 5’1, medium build, long brown hair, Asian
Magnus MacDermid (male, 14 years)
– 5’6, black spiky, medium build, glasses, Asian

Anyone who may have information or know the whereabouts of Ian MacDermid or the children are asked to call their local police.

Information on crimes can also be submitted anonymously using Crime Stoppers of Niagara.

To leave an anonymous tip, please contact Crime Stoppers via:

Telephone – 1-800-222-8477 (TIPS)
Online – www.niagaratips.ca

Editorial note: The father in this case, Ian MacDermid, was originally believed to be operating a gold or beige pickup truck.